Reformist Islam
What possibilities does Islam offer for the reform and democratisation of modern Muslim societies? Qantara.de presents the opinions and initiatives of renowned thinkers from the Islamic world
Reformist Islam
Interview with Tariq Ramadan
A Revolution in Suspense
According to the Islamic intellectual Tariq Ramadan, the revolutions in the Arab world are either unfinished or have not yet reached their goals. Ceyda Nurtsch spoke to him and asked him about the prospects for the popular uprisings and the nature of the protest movements More »
Islamic Feminism and Reformist Islam
Against the Politicisation of the Koran
Muslim feminists such as Amina Wadud use the Koran to argue in favour of women's rights and against the patriarchal system. But unfortunately, as Nimet Seker writes, some feminists are falling into the apologist trap and running the risk of politically exploiting Islam More »
Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari
Why Islam and Democracy Go Well Together
The Shiite scholar Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is regarded as one of the Iran's most influential Muslim reformist thinkers. In an interview with Jan Kuhlmann, he explains why there is no inconsistency between Islam and democracy. More »
Interview with Irshad Manji
''I Consider it Wrong to Say that Muslims are Incapable of Reform''
The liberal feminist Muslim and bestselling author Irshad Manji calls for a reconciliation between faith and freedom. Christoph Dreyer spoke with her about civil courage, the dangers of moderation and her new book Allah, Liberty and Love More »
Mathias Rohe on Islamic Theology in Germany
Triggering Global Debates
In Germany, Islamic theology is being introduced as a university course – a much debated issue in academic terms, but also politically. In this interview, Mathias Rohe, Germany's most renowned academic expert on Sharia law, talks about what this means for the development of Islam in Germany and, potentially, on a global level More »
Islam's Internal Debate on Reform
The Battle for Interpretational Supremacy
Whether it is about a ban on burkas or minarets, on integration and mainstream culture, or the triumphal procession of raving critics of Islam the likes of Geert Wilders – Europe is obsessed with the discussion on Islam and, in the process, it is occasionally forgotten that the Muslim world is confronted with similar issues. By Christian H. Meier More »
Reformist Islam after Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd
Who Will Protect the Koran from Itself?
July 5th was the first anniversary of the death of the progressive Koranic scholar Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd. A summit meeting in his memory took place recently in Germany, where a select group of reformist thinkers discussed the innovation of Islam and the problems associated with it. By Angela Schader More »
Portrait Sadiq Al-Azm
An Argumentative Arab Enlightener
The Syrian philosopher Sadiq Al-Azm is one of the highest-profile and most strident critics of the Arab world. To this day, his ideas are between all fronts, making him enemies of both Islamist and secular dogmatists. Sadiq Al-Azm is soon to celebrate his 75th birthday. A portrait by Kersten Knipp More »
Interview with Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid
''I am a Witness to the Changes in Islam''
Leading Islamic reformist and literary scholar, Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid, believes that individual freedom is an essential prerequisite to faith. Everyone, therefore, also has the right to convert to another faith. He talked to Erhard Brunn about some of his ideas More »
Portrait of the Philosopher Mohammed Abed al-Jabri
Critique of Arab Reason
Mohammed Abed al-Jabri is without a doubt one of the most important contemporary Arab intellectuals. His work focuses on the failure of the Enlightenment in the Islamic world and the search for an Arab identity in modernity. Sonja Hegasy introduces the Moroccan philosopher More »
The Reformist Islamic Thinker Muhammad Shahrur
In the Footsteps of Averroes
Muhammad Shahrur's work is a comprehensive attempt to reconcile the religion of Islam with modern philosophy as well as the rational worldview of the natural sciences. According to Shahrur, jurisprudence in the name of God is a farce benefiting only those wanting to maintain political power. By Loay Mudhoon More »
Muhammad Shahrur
''We Urgently Need Religious Reforms!''
The moderate Islamic thinker Muhammad Shahrur's contemporary interpretation of the Koran has attracted a lot of attention. In an interview with Ahmad Hissou, he calls for a religious reform of Islam, which he considers even more important than political reforms More »
Mohamed Talbi
''Religious Dogmas Terrorize the Spirit''
The Tunisian intellectual Mohamed Talbi is regarded as one of the most critical leading thinkers in the Arab world. In his most recently published book, he denounces traditional Islamic religious scholars and argues for a contemporary reading of the Koran. Rachid Boutayeb introduces Mohamed Talbi More »
Jawdat Said
Islam as a Violence-Free Religion
Philosopher Jawdat Said, little known in the West, has been propagating a vision of Islam free of violence for the past 40 years. His books have been widely read and discussed by Islamic activists in the Arab world. A profile by Bashar Humeid More »
Khaled Abou el Fadl
''God Does Not Have an Equal Partner''
Khaled Abou el Fadl is both a prominent Islamic jurist and an American lawyer. In his many books he has accused radical Islamists of ignorance concerning the Koran and Sharia law. A portrait by Monika Jung-Mounib More »
Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari (Part 1)
''Islam Is a Religion, Not a Political Agenda''
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most important contemporary Shia clerics. In the first part of this lengthy interview with Fatma Sagir, the Iranian philosopher and theologian speaks about the complex relationship between state and religion, and about the effects of coercion and regulation in matters relating to faith More »
Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari (Part 2)
''Muslims Can Have Democracy without Having to Leave Islam''
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most significant contemporary Shia clerics. In the second part of this interview with Fatma Sagir, Shabestari speaks about the compatibility of Islam and Democracy, and about how the Iranian revolution affected his philosophy More »
Mohsen Kadivar
Adapting to Contemporary Islam
Is Islamic law compatible with democracy and human rights? One of Iran's best-known reformist clerics has an answer to this question – an answer that challenges Islamic orthodoxy. Bahman Nirumand reports on a reformist theologian. More »
Abdolkarim Sorush
For an Open Interpretation of the Koran
The reformist thinker and philosopher Abdolkarim Sorush is one of a new generation of theologians that openly speaks out in favour of human rights and secularism in Iran. Katajun Amirpur about an awkward Iranian intellectual. More »
Turkey as a Laboratory of Islam?
Synthesis of Islamic Thought, Secularism, and Modernity
In June, the highest Islamic authority in Turkey caused surprise by announcing that it will define a new, modern Islam. At least as far as the subject of women is concerned, the Diyanet, the Directorate of Religious Affairs, wants to present a modern image. Volker S. Stahr reports More »
Portrait of the Turkish Koran Expert Ömer Özsoy
A Modern Interpretation of Islam Instead of Missionary Work
In 2006, the Koran expert Ömer Özsoy from Kayseri in Turkey became the first Muslim theology professor at a German university. Arian Fariborz met with the renowned scholar and his students in Frankfurt More »
Portrait Ali Bulaç
Beyond Conservatism and Nationalism
For some, the Turkish intellectual Ali Bulaç is a pioneering thinker of a backward-looking political Islam, whilst for others he represents a modern reformed Islam that renounces political ideology of any kind. By Guenter Seufert More »
The Malaysian Muslim Scholar Chandra Muzaffar
The Basic Moral Values of the Koran
Chandra Muzaffar is one of Malaysia's best-known human rights activists and public intellectuals. While being critical of western global hegemony, he says Muslims have to fundamentally re-evaluate their understanding of Islam and its traditions. By Yogi Sikand More »
Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo
Seat of Knowledge and Mediator between the Cultures
The Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo is the most important institute of Islamic higher education, research and teaching in Europe. It is the living proof that Islam has its place in the modern academic world. Stefan Schreiner reports More »
Muhammad Iqbal
The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam
Muhammad Iqbal is regarded as one of the great thinkers of the Islamic Awakening. His major philosophical work has now been published in German. The book's a timeless intellectual challenge of the first rank, says Ludwig Amman More »
Interview with Tariq Ramadan
''We Are Europeans''
Tariq Ramadan is considered by many one of Europe's most influential intellectuals. In this interview with Claudia Mende, the Swiss Muslim academic talks about his understanding of European citizenship, his concept of sharia, and the shortcomings of a literal interpretation of the Koran More »
Fareena Alam
Five Principles for Islam's Future
Islam can move beyond its association with oppression and violence by being true to itself and its past, says Fareena Alam. In her article, she argues for a promotion of spirituality and morality, and for the separation of state and church More »
Interview with Asra Nomani
'Gender Jihad' in the Service of Women's Rights
The 44-year-old US writer Asra Nomani is viewed as a prominent representative of "Gender Jihad". For the former Wall Street Journal reporter, there is no contradiction between Islam and feminism. She spoke to Alfred Hackensberger More »
Interview with Asma Barlas
''It Is the Right for Every Muslim to Interpret the Quran for Themselves''
One of the scholars who try to offer a more emancipatory interpretation of the Quran is Asma Barlas. She closely examines the male-oriented interpretations of the Quran and offers an antipatriarchal alternative More »
Interview with Ahmed An-Na'im
''We Muslims Have No Church!''
Human rights and secularism, says Ahmed An-Na'im, create a space for protest. And, surprisingly, the lawyer, who is originally from Sudan, sees in the Muslim law system, the Sharia, the third pillar of a humane civil society. Interview by Edith Kresta More »
Indonesia's Liberal Islam Network
Interpreting Islam in its Social Context
In Indonesia, eight months before September 11 2001, a small group of Muslim intellectuals got together with the aim of forming a progressive counterbalance to the conservative Islamist movements in their country. Christina Schott reports More »
Muslims and the West
Desperately Seeking Occidentalists
If relations between the West and the Muslim world are to be improved, writes Maulana Waris Mazhari, Muslims must make a serious attempt not only to study both the positive and the negative aspects of Western thought, civilisation and history, but also to learn from them More »
Interview with Maulana Kalbe Sadiq
''Education Is the Most Crucial Challenge for India's Muslims''
Maulana Kalbe Sadiq is one of India's leading Shia Muslim scholars. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand, he talks about educational concepts of Indian Muslim scholars and their widespread reluctance to face Muslims' contemporary challenges More »
Portrait Asghar Ali Engineer
Learning from India
Asghar Ali Engineer's aim is to make progressive thinking accessible to lay people and to bring it beyond the borders of a select group of intellectuals. A portrait of the Indian Muslim thinker by Fatma Sagir More »
